Tile is ever-changing, and today’s latest trends, driven in part by new manufacturing methods and printing technologies, are opening up a whole new world of covetable looks. We’re seeing a push toward new and innovative ways of combining different products, using tiles to create bold geometric shapes or to evoke an understated luxury with soft, organic lines and nature-inspired textures.

Want your backsplash to send a message? How about a stenciled design? That should do the trick. First apply spackle on the wall and let it dry overnight. Then paint the wall any color you want (in this case a dark chocolate tone). Then sponge on bronze metallic paint. Then comes the tricky part: the stenciling. You need to do some research and pick a technique. Also, be patient.